On December 27th we welcomed our second visit from the ranks of our friends in America. The Hoon family, Zack & Jayne and their sons Clay & Carter arrived for a week-long adventure. Together we hit the Taipei Zoo, Taipei 101, The Shilin Night Market and Sun Moon Lake (now unofficially renamed Sun HOON Lake). Not only was it great to see our old friends again but Clay, who is currently studying Chinese in College, proved particularly useful as a translator and impromptu tour guide since he could read menus, ask directions and function as a nearly normal member of Taiwanese Society – a skill that still eludes many of the rest of us 外國人 (Weiguoren, the characters for foreigner in Chinese). In the photo below you see the jet-lagged Hoon Family found a little bit of home when they met up with American Marketing Icon Ronald McDonald who happened to be at the Taipei Zoo on a promotional visit.

Even the animals got excited meeting the Hoons. Some of them even opened their eyes.

Then it was just a quick ride on the Taipei Metro Rail (MRT) to Taipei 101. Taipei 101 dominates the skyline of our fair city and between 2004 and 2010 it was the tallest building in the world. For just $500 NT for adults and $450 NT for children ($15 US & $13.50 US respectively) we took the elevator up to the 89th floor observatory and also gained access to the 91st floor outside deck which is sometimes closed due to high winds. Even though we had been here 7 months at that point, it took visiting friends to get us to the top. We found out Taipei 101 is green, is known as an engineering marvel in a country rife with typhoons and earthquakes and offers a hell of a great view of the city and surrounding green space. Check out these pics…

Trying to see the top of Taipei 101 just makes your neck hurt

I like the 101 logo made of 3 circles. Maybe my graphic designer friends back in the States like it too…or at least have an opinion.

This is where you wait to get to the top. Knowing this years ago could have significantly helped my career.

Haven’t been this high since I left Cleveland.

Couldn’t resist. Maybe the thinner air went to my head.

This is to remind the ladies that folks can see up their skirts when they stand over the mirrored sections of the floor. Duh…

An engineering marvel, the Taipei 101 is famous for extreme stability in a land of typhoons and earthquakes. This giant metal counterweight keeps it from falling over.

These things hold up the giant damper.

Thank god this sign was there to remind me not to jump…otherwise, who knows what might have happened.

Youngest son seems thrilled to be on top of the world with his dear old dad.

Looking up at the final ten floors from the 91st floor observation deck.

They have created a family of “Damper Baby” statues you can get your picture taken with….this is one.

That night we went to the Shilin Night Market. Sorry but I was either too tired or too drunk to take any pictures. Suffice it to say it is a packed throng of street vendors selling everything from squid on a stick to “Stinky Tofu” – a Taiwanese delicacy I have yet to drink enough to try. The next day we went to Sun “Hoon” Lake. Sun Moon Lake is the largest body of fresh water in Taiwan. Although it’s not much compared to the Great Lakes in the States, it’s still pretty damn big and the surrounding area is gorgeous. There’s a Gondola ride up the mountains, boat rides around the lake, bike paths surrounding the shore and the awesome Wen Wu Temple right on the shore overlooking the tranquil waters.

We rode a Gondola to an Aboriginal Theme Park, celebrated the New Year with old friends on the lakeshore and had an all-around great time at Sun HOON Lake – as it will forever be known henceforth in the Klar family.

These are ashtrays for sale in the village. Handicrafts like these revere the procreative forces of nature.

Klar & Hoon Males set the hearts of local girls all aflutter.

Dinner with two families is twice as nice.

Local sign warns agains buying anything from louts.

Boats on the lake decorated with tasteful restraint.

Midnight on the Lake with my old friend Zack, ringing in the new year right.

Gondola to the top of a nearby mountain.

Getting higher at Sun Moon Lake.

Clay and Carter Hoon enjoy the Gondola.

Bodhi sets his sights on the top.

Lush green forests cover the mountains of Taiwan.

Becky poses in front of the Gondola station.

The lake seen from the shore during a morning run.

Poinsettias grow wild on this island and reach the size of medium-sized trees.

Another view during a morning run.

Klar boys making waves.

One thing you occasionally regret living halfway around the world from people you’ve known most of your life is that you can’t show them the sights, point out the smells and have a laugh or two about this crazy place. It was soooooo nice to share our experience in Taiwan with such great old friends while we got to know their children better and let them get to know ours. We welcome any and all visitors to this “magic rock.” And we hope to see more of you soon.

I am terribly behind on this family blog. Please forgive me but I promise to post more regularly and eventually get up to the present. Don’t forget we love and miss you all. And feel free to post heartfelt or sarcastic comments – the more the better.

–The Klars Afar